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Survivorship: During and After Treatment

In this section you'll find information and tips on staying active and healthy during and after cancer treatment. You can also get information on dealing with the possibility of cancer recurrence, and find inspiration and hope in stories about other people whose lives have been touched by cancer.

Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Eating the right kinds of foods during and after treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger. Learn more about the importance of good nutrition during and after cancer treatment here.

Find out more about staying active during and after cancer treatment. Learn about the importance of exercise, as well as what you need to know if you are planning on working during treatment or returning to work afterwards.

More people than ever are surviving cancer and thriving after treatment. Watch this video series to learn how to cope with the physical and emotional challenges that come during cancer treatment and beyond, and find inspiration in the experiences of other survivors.

The National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center (The Survivorship Center) is a collaborative effort to shape the future of cancer survivorship care and improve the quality of life of cancer survivors as they transition from treatment to recovery. Learn more about The Survivorship Center and view resources for survivors, health care professionals, and the policy and advocacy community.

All cancer patients should receive an individualized survivorship care plan after treatment that includes guidelines for monitoring and maintaining their health. Many groups have now developed various types of care plans to help improve the quality of care of survivors as they move beyond their treatment. You can find examples of these plans here.

If you're facing a cancer diagnosis, connecting with others who've been through one already can be a source of comfort and support. Learn more about the American Cancer Society's online communities including WhatNext (cancer support network), Circle Of Sharing™ (personalized cancer information), and Cancer Survivors Network, then join the one that's right for you.

Once treatment is over, people who have had cancer often want to know what they can do to stay healthy. It's important to realize that people who have had cancer in the past can still have other health problems. Some may even develop other cancers. Learn about the things you can do to help yourself stay healthy once your cancer treatment is completed.

Some cancers can come back or recur after treatment. The odds of this happening depend on many factors, including the type of cancer. Learn more about cancer recurrence and living with this possibility here.

Sometimes cancer is a lot like a chronic disease -- it never goes away and stays away, but is controlled, like heart disease or diabetes. Some people can live with cancer for a long time, even many years. Living with cancer is different from living after cancer. Here we share what it is like and how you and your loved ones can learn to live with cancer that doesn’t go away.